The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-09
HELD AT BAY BY A NEGRO.
DRAWING HIS PISTOL HE RUNS
AMUCK AT A DEPOT.

He Fires Seven Shots as He Runs, But
Fails to Hit Anybody-An Engineer
Into Whose Cab He Leaped Floors
Him With Monkey Wrench-Other
Jottings From Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, July 6.-Ely G.
Jordan, arepulsive negro claiming Callahan
as his home, ran amuck through the Savan-
nah, Florida and Western railroad depot
this afternoon and for brief period held
complete possession. Capt. Murphy arrested
him on the cannon ball train, just before it
left, for profane and obscene language and
turned him over to Officer Clems in the
baggage room, No sooner had Murphy left
than Jordan pulled out a 3S-calibre bull
dog" revolver and fired point blank at
Clems who stood close to and facing him.
The shot just missed the officer and struck
the opposite wall Then with a yell the
negro rushed at the other people near him.
All fled wildly. On the platform were a
score or more of waiting passengers,
four shots, all, strange to say,
missing He then rushed through the cam
non ball train, firing two more shots. AT
the side of the train was the Jacksonville,
Tampa and Key West afternoon express.
Jordan, on emerging from the forward car,
jumped ON the Jacksonville, Tampa and
Key West engine, and tried to shoot En-
gineer Shay who returned the compliment
with monkey wrench, knocking Jordan
OFF. As he fell the police rushed up and
clubbed him until he was insensible. Then
disarmed and ironed he was taken on a dray
to the city jail AS he recovered he foamed
at the mouth and poured out vile impreca-
tions on all concerned in his capture He
is desperate character and much wonder
is expressed that none of the flying shots took
effect. The passengers and employees were
in terrible panic and scattered promis-
cously. One dived under the car tent, got
caught half way and lay there kicking his
heels and yelling.
SALE or A RAILROAD.
At noon Phillip Walter, Special Master of
the United States Court, sold before the
court room door under and by virtue of
decree of the United States Court, rendered
at the December term, in the case of A. b.
Bishop against the international Railway
and Steamship Company of Florida, the
Jacksonville and Palatka division of said
road, to Mr.. Bishop for 1900 The sale
was made to pay a claim Of 81, 753 7S and
interest since 1881, held by Mr. Bishop against
tho road for constructing the above divis-
ion. This is the portion of the railroad
which is generally known as "The Gordon
road" These suits caused Gov Gordon to
make frequent trips here. The amount
brought by the sale to-day will barely cover
the costs of the court There is said to be
fifty five miles of the road graded between
this city and Tampa.
Arrow IN CHURCH.
Rather an amusing trial was had before
the Mayor this morning. IL seems that the
"cullud" brethren of the Second Baptist
church (colored) hero do not live together
altogether in harmony Last night a row
occurred at the church and the police were
called in. But the door was locked and all
they could do was to remain there till the
close of the meeting and then take the
names of the obstreperous members. A
man named Orange was before his honor
ut this mornings matinee as the principal
offender. The entire church attended, al
most and the room was packed full of in
terested listeners. 1t seems that Orange
pastor, s. w. Walker, who had been elect
ed the month before, and sup
posed that defeating the adoption
of the minutes of the previous meeting
they would render the election void.
Orange, it is said rose in his might, threat
ened the pastor, shook his first in the rever-
end gentlemans face and acted enormously
scandalously" as one good brother testified.
The pastor testified that the offender
uttered epithets unbecoming reprobate,
to say nothing of "A live Christian" The
testimony was most amusing and ridiculous,
the big words at times almost proving too
much for the witnesses. Mayor Burbridge
poured oil on the troubled waters, advised
the minority 10 submit TO the majority and
finally very leniently let off Orange with
fne of $40 and costs, suspending the flna
during his good behavior
THE MONTICELLO.
Weightman IL Christopher, in answer te
a query of the MORNING NEWS reporter,
said they had no idea of the future run of the
Monticello, which is expected here to-
morrow The lessees, James T.. Ward e.
Co, of New York, who had chartered the
vessel for three months, had notified them
that they would be here on July 8, and the
owners at Charleston had notified them to
supply the captain with all the funds he
needed, etc They had no information re-
garding any resumption of the old Charles
ton and Palatka line. In business circles
the news was discussed, and many of the
merchants thought it indicated that the old
line would be established, especially as the
rupture had occurred between the CLYDE
lines and the other The Florida Southern is
interested in getting the steamers back, and
prominent business men of Palatka have
been working on it for some time past
One OF the most prominent wholesale
firms here says their trade compares very
favorably with that of last year, notwith-
standing the quarantine troubles, and the
firm say, further, that their collections are
even better than last year.
The steamers Everglade and Welaka, of
the DeBarry line, are tied up at Enterprise.
Heavy rains are reported from all sections
adjacent 10 this city. Yesterdays terrific
wind storm did considerable damage in the
outskirts of the city
The steam launch Susie May, of George
town, was bought to-day by L. Vanderpool
for $500.
A contract was let to-day for building a
warehouse for the cotton compress. A large
amount Of money is pledged for the enter
prise, but the principals still remain un
known.